Grantee Highlights — Community Initiatives

Hawai’i Marine Mammal Alliance — 2024 — O’ahu, HI

With the support of the Marine Debris Foundation, the Hawai’i Marine Mammal Alliance (HMMA) conducted 60 dives to remove marine debris from O’ahu waters, cleaning 85 acres of underwater habitat in its mission to protect and conserve Hawai’i’s native marine wildlife. During removal efforts both above and below water, HMMA collected nearly 500 hooks, 1,400 weights, and 22,000 feet of monofilament line. HMMA took three different approaches to encouraging community participation in marine debris issues. Installing and maintaining 12 public-use disposal bins made prevention of ghost gear convenient and easy by offering recreational fishers places to dispose of worn and broken gear. Engaging professional and volunteer divers in efforts to record and remove debris allowed HMMA to efficiently clean sensitive habitats while gathering data on debris. Through community events and classroom activities, HMMA reached over 500 community members and students, spreading awareness about marine debris and how to protect Hawai’i’s waters.

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies — 2024 — Homer, AK

MDF funds supported the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies’ annual CoastWalk cleanup program, which engaged 2,500 volunteers in removing 2,500lbs of debris from the shores of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. The purchase of a van and repairs made to a trailer allowed for more volunteers to participate and more debris to be collected and transported than previous years. The collected plastic was able to be compressed using a rented baler machine and sent off to be recycled into plastic lumber. MDF funds also supported the development of mycelium-based insulative packaging, reducing the amount of styrofoam plastic used to ship fresh seafood.

Algalita — 2023-24 — Multiple locations (US & International)

With support from MDF, Algalita Marine Research and Education engaged nearly 3,000 students from 123 different countries in the mission of tackling plastic pollution through the creation of the Wayfinder Society for Environmental Education. This free online program provides easily accessible open-source educational material to educators worldwide. Algalita also reached 3,600 educators through professional development workshops and other outreach activities, including distributing free toolkits to empower educators with resources for teaching sustainability. Additionally, 10 students and 12 educators were awarded mini-grants to implement sustainability projects and initiatives in their communities and classrooms. The program saw unprecedented engagement with students taking active measures in their communities and contributing over 4,500 service-learning hours, cementing the positive impact of marine debris education.

Project Terrapin — 2024-25 — Multiple locations, NJ

With support from MDF, Project Terrapin was able to supply over 4500 bycatch reduction devices to recreational crabbers in New Jersey. The devices fit into crab pot funnels and help reduce the number of non-target animals inadvertently caught by the traps, including the threatened diamondback terrapin. Project Terrapin partnered with 13 local businesses and organizations to distribute the devices and created accompanying brochures that spread awareness about diamondback terrapins and the dangers of derelict crab pots.

Save the Bay — 2024 — Narragansett Bay, RI

In their mission to conserve the islands and wetlands of Narragansett Bay, Save the Bay collected just over 900 pounds of marine debris from three undeveloped islands in 2023, an effort supported by the Marine Debris Foundation. The impressive haul was collected with the help of 51 volunteers over the course of only three days, covering Prudence, Patience, and Dyer Islands. The amount of debris gathered was less than Save the Bay had removed from the islands during cleanups in previous years. They also noticed fewer large debris items like tires and lobster traps, showing that consistent removal is important and can be an effective management tool against debris accumulation.

WILDCOAST — 2024 — Tijuana, BN, Mexico

In 2024, Wildcoast successfully removed over 38,000 pounds of debris from the neighborhoods and waterways of Tijuana, Mexico, preventing it from reaching the Tijuana River Estuary. The work, which was supported by funding from MDF, included multiple community collection events that engaged 130 volunteers and also created paid positions for dedicated community debris collectors and sorters. Another big accomplishment was the installation of floating barriers in the Matadero Stream that collect garbage and prevent it from washing into the larger Tijuana River. The neighborhood of Camino Verde, the original planned location of the barriers, received skimming nets and recycling locations to support local desires for debris removal infrastructure. Through their coordination with city officials, local decision makers, and community members in both Tijuana and San Diego, Wildcoast has raised awareness about preventing marine debris and streamlined the process for installing more trash-collecting barriers.

Hanai Kaiaulu — 2024 — Mākaha, HI

With funding from MDF, Hanai Kaiaulu strengthened community connections through active engagement in environmental stewardship. An event held at Mākaha Beach on O’ahu, Hawai’i brought together 60 volunteers to plant native trees and clean the beach. The native plants help to restore native habitats while also acting as a barrier that prevents debris from being blown into the ocean. The event raised awareness about plastic pollution and provided families with sand-sifters to use on beach outings. Hanai Kaiaulu also spent time educating unhoused community members about litter and helped them find practical solutions for disposing of waste. Lastly, the project introduced community members to the re-use of cardboard as biodegradable planters. All of these activities together helped promote good stewardship habits while providing fun, hands-on education on marine debris.

Center for Coastal Studies — 2024-25 — Provincetown, MA

The Center for Coastal Studies created a second edition of their comprehensive field guide to the different types of marine debris found in the Gulf of Maine. The guide adds information about 170 different types of debris in addition to the 150 types listed in the first edition. The guides include photos and other marine debris data that are helpful for use in education and public outreach. The guides are available on the Center for Coastal Studies website and 500 copies of the second edition will be printed and distributed to educators and partner organizations.

Conservation Opportunity — 2024 — Cabo Rojo, PR

Conservation Opportunity held the inaugural AquaFest in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The event had over 500 attendees and successfully brought together diverse stakeholders, including educators, students, families, tourists, and representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations. The festival featured educational exhibits that taught attendees about marine debris, as well as hands-on activities that allowed people to participate in the cleanup process, from removal to reuse and even artistic upcycling. A roundtable panel fostered exploration of new ideas to reduce and remove marine litter. Overall, over 80% of participants reported learning something new and nearly all said that the experience and knowledge they gained was helpful in understanding and preventing marine debris.